Versatile apparatus and method for electronic devices

Abstract

An electronic system which includes a power delivery surface that delivers electrical power to an electrical or electronic device. The power delivery surface may be powered by any electrical power source, including, but not limited to: wall electrical outlet, solar power system, battery, vehicle cigarette lighter system, direct connection to electrical generator device, and any other electrical power source. The power delivery surface delivers power to the electronic device wirelessly. The power delivery surface may deliver power via a plurality of contacts on the electrical device conducting electricity from the power delivery surface, conductively coupling the electronic device to the power delivery surface, inductively coupling the electronic device to the power delivery surface, optically coupling the electronic device to the power delivery surface, and acoustically coupling the electronic device to the power delivery surface as well as any other electrical power delivery mechanism.

1 . An electrical apparatus, comprising:
 a power delivery surface that comprises at least a part of a support surface, said power delivery surface being connected to an electrical power source, said power delivery surface being capable of supplying electrical power; and   an electrical device, which is supplied electricity and is positionable in any location on a support surface, said electrical device obtaining electrical power from said power delivery surface that is at least part of said support surface.   
     
     
         2 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said power delivery surface supplies electricity to said electrical device via an electricity supply technique, said electricity supply technique being comprised of at least one of the group consisting of: conduction, induction, capacitive, acoustic, optical, and microwave. 
     
     
         3 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said electrical power source is comprised of at least one of the group consisting of: electrical outlet, battery, vehicle cigarette lighter system, solar power system, and direct connection to electrical generator device. 
     
     
         4 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a magnetic field electrical circuit that causes a magnetic field to change, said magnetic field electrical circuit being a part of said power delivery surface; and   an inductive element that induces an electrical current when exposed to a changing magnetic field to supply said electrical device with electricity, said inductive element being a part of said electrical device.   
     
     
         5 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of electrical devices that are supplied electricity and are positionable at any location on said support surface, said plurality of electrical devices obtaining electrical power from said power delivery surface that is at least part of said support surface. 
     
     
         6 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said electrical device is powered by electrical power supplied by said power delivery surface. 
     
     
         7 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said electrical device is charged by electrical power supplied by said power delivery surface. 
     
     
         8 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said electrical device comprises a battery system, said battery system charging without being incorporated into a host device. 
     
     
         9 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said battery system further comprises:
 a battery that stores electrical energy, said battery charged by said power delivery surface;   a power receiver circuit integrated with said battery that delivers electrical power from said power delivery surface to said battery;   a regulator circuit integrated with said battery that conditions voltage deliver by said power delivery surface to match a desired voltage of said battery; and   a charging controller circuit integrated with said battery that manages the charging of the battery to ensure proper charging of said battery.   
     
     
         10 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said electrical device comprises a battery system, said battery system being further incorporated into a host device to achieve charging of said battery system. 
     
     
         11 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said battery system further comprises:
 a battery that stores electrical energy, said battery charged by said power delivery surface; and   a power receiver circuit integrated with said battery that delivers electrical power from said power delivery surface to said battery, wherein said host device incorporating said battery system includes a regulator circuit that conditions voltage delivered by said power delivery surface to match a desired voltage of said battery, and said host device further includes a charging controller circuit that manages the charging of the battery to ensure proper charging of said battery.   
     
     
         12 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said battery system further comprises:
 a battery that stores electrical energy, said battery charged by said power delivery surface; and   a power receiver circuit integrated with said battery that delivers electrical power from said power delivery surface to said battery; and   a regulator circuit integrated with said battery that conditions voltage deliver by said power delivery surface to match a desired voltage of said battery, wherein said host device incorporating said battery system includes a charging controller circuit that manages the charging of the battery to ensure proper charging of said battery.   
     
     
         13 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said electrical device is comprised of at least one of the group consisting of: toy, game device, cell phone, battery, charger, handheld device, power tool, power connector, cup, music player, camera, calculator, remote control, video cassette recorder (VCR), digital video disc (DVD), fax machine, computer, personal digital assistant, grooming devices, electric shaver, electric toothbrush, hair clippers, appliance, television, and refrigerator. 
     
     
         14 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said electrical device further comprises:
 a power receiver system that receives electrical power from said power delivery surface; and   a host device that utilizes said electrical power received from said power deliver surface.   
     
     
         15 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said power receiver system is incorporated into said host device. 
     
     
         16 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said power receiver system is connected to said host device through a power connector system. 
     
     
         17 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said power connector system includes a battery system. 
     
     
         18 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said electrical device further comprises:
 a cup that holds liquids;   a heating element powered by electricity that heats said cup and contents of said cup; and   a power receiver system that receives electrical power from said power delivery surface.   
     
     
         19 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 ferromagnetic material incorporated into said support surface such that a magnet will attach to said support structure and receiving power from said power delivery surface that is at least part of said support surface; and   a magnet incorporated into said electrical device such that said electrical device will remain attached to said support structure when said support structure is in a non-horizontal position.   
     
     
         20 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said support surface is incorporated into a host structure. 
     
     
         21 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 20  wherein said host structure is comprised of at least one of the group consisting of: vehicle, vehicle dashboard, vehicle center console, vehicle seat, vehicle tray table, vehicle truck bed toolbox, appliance, alarm clock, microwave, refrigerator, furniture, couch, table, desk, electronic device, scanner, printer, laptop computer, building, and fixture. 
     
     
         22 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 20  wherein said host structure further comprises a tray structure that incorporates said power delivery surface and slides into and out of said host structure. 
     
     
         23 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 20  wherein said host structure further comprises a tray structure that incorporates said power delivery surface and connects to host structure via a power connector system. 
     
     
         24 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said power delivery surface may be interconnected with other power delivery surfaces to create a larger power delivery surface. 
     
     
         25 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said power delivery surface is foldable. 
     
     
         26 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said power delivery surface may be rolled into a cylinder for storage. 
     
     
         27 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said power delivery surface receives power through a power connector coupled to the power delivery surface in the same manner as said electrical device. 
     
     
         28 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said power delivery surface is illuminated. 
     
     
         29 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said power delivery surface is separated into sections such that each of said sections provides electrical power with separate and distinct electrical characteristics to match the needs of a variety of electronic devices receiving power from said power delivery surface. 
     
     
         30 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising load detection and shutdown protection for said power delivery surface. 
     
     
         31 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 1  said electrical device detects a presence of and a status of said power delivery surface. 
     
     
         32 . The electrical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said power delivery surface communicates data to said electrical device. 
     
     
         33 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a battery; and   a plurality of contacts connected to the battery, the contacts being arranged so that when the battery is carried by a power delivery support structure, at least two contacts in the plurality of contacts have a potential difference between.   
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein the battery is charged in response to the potential difference. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein the battery includes a battery casing through which the contacts extend. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein the battery carries a power adapter circuit which receives a power delivery signal when the battery is operatively coupled with a power delivery support structure. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein the power adapter circuit adapts the power delivery signal to a desired power signal. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein the contacts are arranged so that the power delivery signal S PDS  is provided to the adapter circuit independently of the orientation of the battery relative to the power delivery support structure. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 37 , further including a pair of output contacts connected with the power adapter circuit, the desired power signal being outputted by the output contacts. 
     
     
         40 . An electronic system, comprising:
 a battery having a plurality of contacts connected thereto, the contacts being arranged so that when the battery is carried by a power delivery support structure, at least two contacts in the plurality of contacts have a potential difference between them which charges the battery; and   a battery charger which includes a housing that defines a battery compartment and carries a pair of charger contacts therein, the battery compartment being sized and shaped to receive the battery.   
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 40 , wherein the battery includes a battery casing through which the contacts extend. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 40 , wherein the battery carries a power adapter circuit in communication with the contacts, the power adapter circuit receiving a power delivery signal when the battery is operatively coupled with the power delivery support structure. 
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 42 , wherein the power adapter circuit adapts the power delivery signal to a desired power signal. 
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 42 , further including a pair of output contacts connected with the power adapter circuit, the desired power signal being outputted by the output contacts. 
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 44 , wherein the pair of output contacts are connected to corresponding charger contacts when the battery is positioned in the compartment. 
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 44 , wherein the pair of output contacts and power adapter circuit are positioned on opposed sides of the battery. 
     
     
         47 . An electronic system, comprising:
 a power delivery support structure having a power delivery surface defined by first and second conductive regions;   a battery which carries a plurality of contacts, wherein the first and second conductive regions and the contacts are arranged so at least one of the contacts engages the first conductive region and at least another of the contact engages the second conductive region in response to the battery being carried by the power delivery support structure; and   a power adapter circuit carried by the battery, the power adapter circuit receiving a potential difference between the first and second conductive regions.   
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the dimension of each contact is chosen so it does not connect the first and second conductive regions together. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the power adapter circuit provides a desired potential difference to charge the battery in response to receiving the potential difference from the first and second conductive regions. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the potential difference is provided to the contacts independently of the orientation of the electronic device relative to the power delivery surface. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 49 , further including a battery charger having a housing that defines a battery compartment and carries a pair of charger contacts therein. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 51 , wherein the battery charger and battery are connected together through a pair of contacts when the battery is positioned in the battery compartment.